Ducks' Kesler may need career-ending hip surgery

Ryan Kesler may be forced to hang his skates up.

The Anaheim Ducks forward could be facing career-ending surgery on his ailing hip.

"We have to find some options for me. Not just for hockey, but for my life," Kesler told NHL.com's Dan Arritt on Sunday. "Simple things, like putting on socks in the morning, are tough."

Kesler underwent hip surgery on June 17, 2017, and has since played in just 104 out of a possible 164 games. The 34-year-old's performance has declined accordingly, as he's coming off two of his worst seasons since entering the league. He tallied just eight points in 60 contests this year.

Kesler said the only surgery available to him is a hip replacement.

"It would probably be career-ending," Kesler said, who still has three years left on his contract with a $6.875-million cap hit.

Kesler plans to meet with hip specialists over the next few weeks before sitting down with his agent, Ducks general manager Bob Murray, and the doctors to discuss his future in the sport.

"Let's talk to the doctors," Murray said. "Get all the information in front of us, and we'll sit down when we have all the information."

Kesler was one of the preeminent two-way centers in the league during his prime. He won the Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward in 2010-11 during his 41-goal, 73-point season with the Vancouver Canucks. He was a Selke finalist four other times, and in total has 573 career points in 1,001 games.